Seattle, WA – November 7, 2024 – SCIDpda (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority) is pleased to announce the completion of Beacon Pacific Village, a new affordable housing development on the Pacific Tower campus, built on a former parking lot north of the historic Pacific Tower. Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of this essential community resource and celebrated the efforts of SCIDpda, its partners, and the local community.
Beacon Pacific Village includes 160 units of affordable family housing, with a variety of unit sizes—from studios to four-bedroom apartments—designed to serve individuals, families, and multigenerational households. Units are income-restricted for households earning between 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), offering much-needed affordable housing for working-class families while helping to address displacement in the community.
The development also includes key on-site services, such as the Jose Marti Child Development Center, operated by El Centro de la Raza, and the Ron Chew Healthy Aging and Wellness Center, a facility owned and operated by International Community Health Services (ICHS). These services reflect SCIDpda’s comprehensive approach to community development, supporting residents of all ages, from children to elders.
There were several partners in attendance who spoke at the event including:
- Jared Jonson, Co-Executive Director, and Jamie Lee, Co-Executive Director, SCIDpda
- Frank Chopp, Washington House of Representatives
- Virgil Wade, Executive Director, Pacific Hospital PDA
- Maiko Winkler-Chin, Director, Seattle Office of Housing
- Kelly Rider, Director, King County Department of Community & Human Services
- Nicole Bascomb-Green, chair of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission
- Alice Shobe, Global Director, Amazon in the Community, Amazon Housing Equity Fund
- Kelli Nomura, Chief Executive Officer, International Community Health Services / Ron Chew Healthy Aging and Wellness Center
- Hilda Magaña, Director, Child Development Center
- Joel Ing, Principal, Edge Developers
Beacon Pacific Village came to fruition through the collaboration of a dedicated development team led by SCIDpda and Edge Developers. SCIDpda, with a longstanding commitment to providing culturally competent services to immigrants and communities of color, owns and manages the property, overseeing asset management and community engagement. Edge Developers contributed construction management services and a performance guaranty on the project, while Weber Thompson served as the architect and Marpac Construction as the general contractor.
“It’s been a long journey to bring this project to life, and it’s taken the dedication of so many entities and individuals to make it a reality,” said Jamie Lee, SCIDpda Co-Executive Director.
The project was made possible through funding from JPMorgan Chase, Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital, Enterprise, the City of Seattle, King County, Washington State, and Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund.
“Multigenerational families are the heartbeat of a healthy community, and this thoughtful project will serve them for years to come. We’re thrilled to partner with SCIDpda and bring more affordable housing to Seattle. The fact this building in the original home of Amazon makes it even more meaningful,” said Alice Shobe, Global Director of Amazon Community Impact.
In the leasing process, SCIDpda has partnered with several community organizations to implement affirmative marketing practices and ensure that affordable housing opportunities are accessible to historically displaced populations. These community leasing partners—including the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC), InterIm CDA, and Horn of Africa Services—play a vital role in reaching eligible households and supporting applicants throughout the leasing process.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Joseph Guanlao
Senior Development and Communications Manager
SCIDpda
Phone: (206) 334-2548
Email: josephg@scidpda.org
About SCIDpda
SCIDpda (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority) is a community developer with a mission to preserve, promote, and develop the Seattle Chinatown International District as a vibrant neighborhood. Learn more about SCIDpda at scidpda.org.
